In what promises to be an exciting weekend of events, Miss USA 2012 Olivia Culpo will crown the new Miss Rhode Island USA 2013 during a special culmination ceremony on Sept. 9. Ms. Culpo, a native of Cranston, will leave her New York apartment at Trump Tower to return to the Ocean State in order to pass the crown at the pageant that helped catapult her to stardom in her journey to become Miss USA 2012.

As part of the pageant, a group of beautiful, accomplished contestants will compete for the titles of Miss Rhode Island USA and Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2013. Each contestant will also compete for a number of opportunities, including over $1 million in scholarships and prizes.

Tickets to the pageant will be sold at the door Sept. 8 and 9. Saturday’s portion of the pageant includes preliminary judging and begins at 6 p.m. Tickets for Saturday are $30. Sunday’s portion of the pageant begins at 2 p.m. and will consist of the event’s final judging. Tickets for Sunday are priced at $40. For more details on the pageant visit www.MissRhodeIslandUSA.com.

The Park Theatre: Rhode Island Center for the Performing Arts is located at 848 Park Ave., Cranston. Free parking is available for all shows.

Built in 1924, the Park Theatre served as a cultural landmark for nearly eight decades until its closing in 2002. Following seven years and nearly $10 million in renovations, the Park Theatre has been reborn as Rhode Island’s newest theatre and performing arts center. As a fully-equipped, state of the art multi-purpose facility, the Park Theatre features concerts, comedy, theatrical performances, opera, dance recitals, children’s and family shows, and more. Through its extensive renovations, the Park Theatre boasts a larger, deeper stage and 1,000 plush seats that feature significantly more legroom between rows than most theatres. The facility also includes the Stage Door Restaurant and Lounge, a pre-show destination that offers a unique environment for guests to indulge in gourmet dinners, appetizer offerings and cocktails before a performance. Free parking is available behind Cranston City Hall for all events. For more information visit www.ParkTheatreRI.com.